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In this Sports Week: FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 READY FOR KICK-OFF

The countdown is almost over for the biggest FIFA World Cup in history. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will begin on June 12 and conclude on July 20, featuring a record 48 teams competing across three host nations – the United States, Canada and Mexico.

For the first time, the tournament will feature 12 groups of four teams each. The top two teams from every group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will qualify for a newly introduced Round of 32, making this the largest and most inclusive World Cup ever staged.

The tournament's rich history is reflected in its iconic trophies. The original trophy, known as the Victory Trophy, was used from 1930 to 1946. It was later renamed the Jules Rimet Trophy in honour of the FIFA president who helped create the tournament. Brazil earned permanent ownership of that trophy after winning the World Cup for the third time in 1970. Since 1974, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, designed by Silvio Gazzaniga, has become football's most coveted prize.

Defending champions Argentina headline Group J, while traditional powerhouses Brazil, Germany, France, England, Spain and Portugal are among the favourites once again.

The final will be played at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 20 after more than a month of football action spread across sixteen venues.

Before we continue with updates from the FIFA World Cup, here's another reason to celebrate football, especially for Indian fans.

The Indian women's football team has once again demonstrated its growing strength on the regional stage by clinching the SAFF Women's Championship title with an impressive 3-1 victory over defending champions Bangladesh in the final played at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa.

Adding special significance to the triumph was the outstanding performance of Meghalaya's own Sanfida Nongrum, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. The talented striker brought immense pride to Meghalaya and the Northeast through her consistent performances throughout the championship.

India took the lead in the final through Pyari Xaxa in the 42nd minute before Bangladesh equalised through Ritu Porna Chakma in first-half stoppage time. However, India responded immediately after the break when Sanfida Nongrum found the back of the net in the 46th minute to restore India's advantage. Lynda Kom Serto then sealed the victory with a third goal in the 82nd minute, ensuring that the championship trophy returned to India.

Sanfida's contribution extended far beyond the final. She was one of India's standout performers throughout the tournament and had also scored in the semifinal, playing a vital role in the team's successful campaign. Her performances earned her the tournament's highest individual honour, further cementing her reputation as one of the country's brightest football talents.

One of the most emotional moments of the tournament came after the final whistle when Sanfida shared a heartfelt embrace with senior Indian international Grace Dangmei, who announced her retirement from football following the championship.

India's dominance throughout the tournament was remarkable. The team won all four of its matches, scored an impressive eighteen goals and conceded just one. In doing so, India also prevented Bangladesh from securing a third consecutive SAFF Women's Championship title.

For Meghalaya, Sanfida Nongrum's achievement is a matter of immense pride and serves as an inspiration for young footballers across the state. Her success once again highlights the Northeast's significant contribution to Indian football and reinforces the region's reputation as a cradle of sporting talent.

Now, let's return to the build-up to the FIFA World Cup 2026 and some of the major stories emerging ahead of the tournament.

WORLD CUP TALKING POINTS

One of the biggest stories ahead of the tournament is the fitness of Brazilian superstar Neymar. The 34-year-old forward is recovering from a calf injury. The Brazilian Football Confederation reports that his recovery is progressing within expected parameters, although he may miss Brazil's opening matches.

Meanwhile, Brazil has already suffered a setback with right-back Wesley ruled out of the tournament due to a thigh injury. Midfielder Ederson has been called up as his replacement.

Germany has received a major boost with veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer returning to full training. The 2014 World Cup winner is expected to start Germany's opening match against Curaçao after making a successful return from injury.

Austria is set to make World Cup history through goalkeeper Florian Wiegele, who at 2.05 metres becomes the tallest player ever selected for a FIFA World Cup squad. The giant shot-stopper surpasses previous record-holder Andries Noppert of the Netherlands.

Another unusual development concerns Somali referee Omar Artan, who will not officiate at the World Cup after being denied entry into the United States due to immigration and vetting concerns.

RONALDO'S FINAL WORLD CUP DREAM

Group K promises to be one of the most fascinating groups of the tournament. Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo and debutants Uzbekistan will battle for qualification.

All eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo. At 41 years of age, the Portuguese legend is preparing for his sixth World Cup appearance. While Ronaldo has won the European Championship and multiple Nations League titles, the FIFA World Cup remains the one major trophy missing from his remarkable career.

Portugal enters the tournament as one of the strongest squads, combining experienced stars such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias with emerging talents Vitinha and Joao Neves.

For Ronaldo, this World Cup could be the final opportunity to capture football's ultimate prize.

NUMBERS THAT DEFINE WORLD CUP 2026

The tournament is set to rewrite the record books.

A total of 104 matches will be played, compared to 64 in previous editions.

There will be 1,248 players representing 48 nations.

Four countries – Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan – will make their World Cup debuts.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo leads all participants with 226 international appearances and is set to join Lionel Messi as the only players to appear in six FIFA World Cups.

Brazil remains the only nation to qualify for every World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1930.

With an additional 40 matches compared to previous editions, the tournament is also expected to surpass the all-time scoring record.

NORWAY RETURNS AFTER 28 YEARS

One of the most emotional stories of the World Cup is Norway's return after a 28-year absence.

Led by captain Martin Odegaard and goal-scoring sensation Erling Haaland, Norway has qualified for football's biggest stage for the first time since 1998.

The team's recent Viking-themed photoshoot became a viral sensation worldwide, symbolising the nation's long journey back to elite international football.

Norway opens its campaign against Iraq and carries the hopes of an entire generation that has never witnessed the country compete at a World Cup.

CRICKET: INDIA REGISTER RECORD TEST WIN

Moving to cricket, India produced a dominant performance against Afghanistan in the one-off Test at New Chandigarh.

India posted a mammoth 564 for 8 declared, powered by magnificent centuries from captain Shubman Gill and opener KL Rahul.

Debutant spinner Manav Suthar starred with the ball, claiming six wickets in Afghanistan's first innings. Afghanistan were dismissed for 152 and, after being forced to follow on, collapsed again for just 112.

India secured victory by an innings and 300 runs, making it the biggest Test win in Indian cricket history.

Captain Shubman Gill described it as a complete team performance, with contributions from both batsmen and bowlers.

INDIA A WIN THRILLER IN DAMBULLA

In the Tri-Nation A Series, India A defeated Sri Lanka A by eight runs in a thrilling encounter at Dambulla.

After early setbacks, Ruturaj Gaikwad anchored the innings with a superb century, scoring 101 runs. Tilak Varma added an important 60 as India A posted 277 for 6.

Sri Lanka A appeared to be cruising toward victory, thanks to captain Sahan Arachchige's excellent 74. However, India's bowlers staged a dramatic comeback in the final overs.

Ayush Badoni, Anukul Roy and Vipraj Nigam each claimed two wickets as India A snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Meanwhile, concerns continue regarding all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who is sidelined with a quadriceps injury. Discussions between the BCCI and IPL franchises are ongoing regarding workload management and player availability.

WRESTLING SUCCESS IN MONGOLIA

Indian wrestlers enjoyed a highly successful campaign at the Ulaanbaatar Open in Mongolia.

The Indian contingent finished with an impressive haul of sixteen medals, including eight gold medals.

Dinesh Dhankhar won gold in the men's 125-kilogram category, while Deepak emerged victorious in the 61-kilogram division.

The performance highlights India's growing strength in wrestling ahead of major international competitions, including the Asian Games.

INDIAN FOOTBALL GETS MAJOR BOOST

Indian football received encouraging news this week as the All India Football Federation agreed in principle to a club-led model for operating the Indian Super League over the next two seasons.

The move is expected to ensure stability and continuity for India's premier football competition.

According to AIFF officials, the 2026-27 ISL season is scheduled to begin on September 4 and will feature a full seven-month campaign involving fourteen clubs.

The proposal allows clubs to oversee commercial operations while the AIFF retains responsibility for regulatory matters such as refereeing, anti-doping measures, player registrations and compliance with FIFA regulations.

The development is expected to provide greater financial certainty and long-term growth for Indian football.

CHESS: MIXED RESULTS FOR INDIA AT UZCHESS CUP

In chess, India's leading grandmasters experienced contrasting fortunes at the UzChess Cup 2026.

Arjun Erigaisi bounced back strongly to secure his first victory of the tournament by defeating Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Yakubboev in a tense encounter.

The win moved Arjun into joint second place with one and a half points after two rounds.

However, Vidit Gujrathi's struggles continued. He suffered his second consecutive defeat, this time against former Candidates Tournament challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi.

The tournament leader after two rounds is Uzbekistan's Mukhiddin Madaminov, who has won both of his games and sits alone at the top of the standings.

With several rounds still remaining, Indian fans will hope for a strong comeback from Vidit and continued success from Arjun.

AND FINALLY

As the sporting world prepares for an unforgettable FIFA World Cup, athletes across disciplines continue to create memorable performances, break records and inspire fans around the globe.

From Ronaldo's final quest for football glory and India's historic Test triumph to wrestling success in Mongolia and exciting developments in Indian football, it has been another action-packed week in sports.

That brings us to the end of this edition of Sports Week.